Pocket-folder and binder

ABSTRACT

A folder for holding papers is made from a single sheet, and includes first and second side pockets which fold about a common center line and have their respective openings disposed on opposite lateral edges of the folder. Each pocket is provided with a flap which folds inwardly so that they seal their associated pockets when the folder is closed about its center line. A binder member may be secured along the center line of the folder for holding papers between the pockets which serve as a cover for the papers held in the binder.

United States Paten Gorman [54] POCKET-FOLDER AND BINDER [72] Inventor:Joseph Gorman, 8815 Golf Road,

Des Plaines, II]. 60016 [22] Filed: Aug. 4, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 60,869

[52] U.S. Cl. ..402/3, 40/359, 281/31, 402/75, 402/18 [51] Int. Cl..B42f 3/00, B42d 3/18 [58] Field of Search....28l/31; 402/18, 3, 75;40/359 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,912,710 6/1933Kennedy ..281/31 1,755,604 4/1930 Kline ..402/17 1,048,577 12/1912Pazdue ..40/359 3,371,850 3/1968 Gorman ..40/359 X 1 Aug. 1, 1972303,346 8/1884 Vernon ..281/31 Primary Examiner-Jerome SchnallAttorney-Dawson, Tilton, Fallon & Lungmus 57 ABSTRACT A folder forholding papers is made from a single sheet, and includes first andsecond side pockets which fold about a common center line and have theirrespective openings disposed on opposite lateral edges of the folder.Each pocket is provided with a flap which folds inwardly so that theyseal their associated pockets when the folder is closed about its centerline. A binder member may be secured along the center line of the folderfor holding papers between the pockets which serve as a cover for thepapers held in the binder.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures POCKET-FOLDER AND BINDER BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates tofolders and binders for looseleaf papers; and in one particular aspect,it relates to a pocket-folder and binder which bears its own indexingtab for filing.

2. Known Commercial Folder The most widely accepted commerciallyavailable folder or looseleaf papers, for example, 8 A in. by 11 in.,includes two outer panels which are joined along a center fold lineextending in the longer dimension of the folder. Pockets are formed onthe inside of each outer panel by a partial inner panel which extendsabout one-third of the way in the longer dimension of the outer paneland is joined to the outer panel at three edges, leaving an opening forreceiving the papers.

In this folder at least half of each paper held by a pocket extends outof the pocket and there is nothing that seals the pocket. Thus, if thefolder happens to be dropped or jolted, the loosely held papers maybecome dislodged from a pocket or even fall out of the folder. Further,this type of folder is not well suited for incorporation into a filebecause adjacent folders must be separated by individual dividers inorder to suitably classify'the filing information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The folder of the present invention ispreferably made from a single sheet of heavy paper, cardboard, plastic,chipboard, leatherette, vinyl, etc.; and it includes first and secondside pockets which fold about a common center line and have theirrespective openings for receiving papers disposed on opposite side edgesof the folder. That is, when the pockets are folded together, theopenings of the pockets are brought together.

Each pocket is provided with a flap extending from the outer panel ofeach pocket which folds inwardly to seal the opening when the folder isclosed. .When papers are placed in either of the two side pockets andthe flap is extended to cover the opening, the possibility of papersfalling from the pocket is much less than with the known prevailing typeof folder.

In a preferred embodiment a series of tabs perforated on three sides areprovided along the fold line of each flap so that the tab may be removedalong the perforations from the flap and extend in the plane of theouter panel of its associated pocket to serve as a filing index, ifdesired.

Further, a binder member including first and second elongated tabsfolded about a center line may be secured to the inner portion of thefolder with the center line of the binder member extending along thecenter fold line of the folder. Looseleaf papers may be bound into thebinder member by means of a brad extending through the papers andlocking the two flaps of the binder member together.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparentto persons skilled in the art from the following detailed description ofa preferred embodiment accompanied by the attached drawing whereinidentical reference numerals will refer to like parts in the variousviews.

THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the inner side of a folderincorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse cross sectional view of the folder of FIG. 1taken through the sight line 2-2 thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a single sheet from which the folder of FIG. 1is formed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Turning first to FIG. 1 thereis shown apocket-folder and binder generally designated by the reference numerall0, and it includes first and second side pockets 11 and 12 respectivelywhich are joined together along a center fold line 13. Preferablythepockets 11 and 12 has a longer and a shorter dimension; and the centerfold line 13 extends in the longer dimension of the pocket.

The pocket 11 includes an inner panel 14 and an outer panel 15 which arejoined together along the opposite edges 11a and 11b. The edge of thepocket 11 which is opposite the fold line 13 (designated 11c) is leftopen for receiving looseleaf papers.

Similarly, the pocket 12 includes an inner panel 16 and an outer panel17 which are joined together along the edges 12a and 12b which extend inthe shorter dimension of the pocket. The edge 12c which is opposite thefold line 13 is left open for receiving looseleaf papers.

The pocket 11 is provided with a flap 18 which is formed integrally withthe outer panel '15 of that pocket along a fold line 19 which extendsalong the opening llc intothe pocket. The flap 18 is folded to extendinwardly over the inner panel 14 and toward the center fold line 13 ofthe folder to cover the opening to the pocket. Similarly, the pocket 12is provided with a flap 20 which is formed integrally with the outerpanel 17 along a fold line 21 which extends along the panel 17 adjacentthe opening 120.

In a preferred embodiment the flap 18 is provided with a number ofperforated tabs designated 25a, 25b, and 250 which are similar so thatonly one tab need be described in detail for an understanding of itsstructure and function. Turning then to the tab 25a, it is perforatedalong three lines designated 26, 27 and 28, its fourth edge 29 extendsalong the fold line 19 between the tab 18 and the outer panel 15 of thepocket 11. There is no perforation along the fold line. When theperforated portions of a tab are severed from the flap, the tab may berotated about the fold line 19 and extend in the same plane as the outerpanel 15 (see tab 25b). Hence, if it is desired to file the pocketfolder, it may be placed into a file and a tab which is separated fromthe flap 18 will extend out of the file for indexing purposes. A numberof tabs are provided spaced laterally along the fold lines 19 so thatthe filing clerk may select different tabs for adjacent folders andtherefore more easily read the filing information. The flap 20 issimilarly provided with a number of perforated tabs designated 30a30e..The tabs 30a-30e, when separated from the flap 20, may be folded aboutthe fold line 21 to extend in the same plane as the outer panel 17 ofthe pocket 12.

If desired a binder member generally designated by reference numeral 32may be provided with the pocket folderolf it is provided, it preferablyincludes first and second elongated tabs 33 and 34 which-are separatedby a center fold line 35. The center fold line of the binder member 32is secured to the pocket folder along its center line 13 by means ofstaples 36. Each of the tabs 33 and 34 of the binder member are providedwith a plurality of aligned apertures (see the pair designated 38) whichmay receive a conventional brad. When a brad is placed through a pair ofaligned holes in the binder member and through a hole in a looseleafsheet of paper to be held by the binder, the brad may be opened and,lock the two tab members 33 and 34 together in holding the paper in thebinder.

A preferred method of making the invention is illustrated in FIG. 3wherein a single sheet of paper is designated by reference numeral 40. Afirst transverse fold line 41 is formed in the die-cut piece of paper 40which is preferably of a heavy paper or light cardboard. The fold line41 defines the lower edge of the outer panels 15 and 17 of the pockets,and a second transverse fold line 42 defines the upper edges of thesepockets. The lower edge of the portion of the sheet 40 beneath the foldline 41 is provided with a line of adhesive at 45, so that when theportion of the sheet above the fold line 42 is folded downwardly and theportion of the sheet beneath the fold line 41 is folded upwardly, theglue line 45 will contact the upper tab 43 and seal therewith. Theperforations for the tabs 25a-25c and 30a-30 may be formed on the samemachine that die cuts the sheet 40, and the fold lines 13, 19 and 21 maybe formed after the glue is applied and the seal formed. 1f the pocketfolder is to be provided with a binder, the binder member 32 may bestapled as shown in FIG. 1 subsequent to forming the seal and the foldlines indicated in FIG. 3.

The width of the tabs 18 and 20, in the case of a folder for receiving 8k in. by l 1 in. size sheets of paper is at least about 2 in. so thatwhen the flaps are folded into their covering position, they will lieflat and thereby cover the pocket opening.

In one preferred embodiment wherein there is a single pocket on eitherside of a central binder, and the intended purpose of the article is forschool work or the like, the sheet material used in making thefolder/binder is No. l 10 index stock.

In a more elaborate embodiment, one or both of the side pockets may bemade expandable by including bellows at the upper and lower edges (1 1,11a and 12, 12a in the drawing). There may also be separators in eachpocket for forming more than one compartment in each pocket, whether thepocket is expandable or not.

The apertured binder member 32 may be replaced by equivalents such asrings, metal or plastic spirals, etc.

It will now be appreciated that the present invention provides aneconomical pocket folder which is easy to manufacture in quantity yetwhich securely holds looseleaf papers in a closeable-pocket wherein the5, 196 .In ad it' t b d rmembe a b, conven iently i nc liide d wi tl i vt A pocket f l d er i if desired.

Persons skilled in the art will be able to modify certain of thestructure which has been described and to substitute equivalent elementsfor those which have been illustrated while continuing to practice theprinciple of the invention; and it is, therefore, intended that all suchmodifications and substitutions be covered as they are embraced withinthe spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim I. An article comprising a folder having first and second sidepockets formed from a single sheet of heavy paper, each pocket includingouter and inner panels joined along two opposite edges, said pocketsbeing further joined together along a fold line extending between saidtwo edges of each pocket, whereby said pockets may be folded about saidfold line to bring the inner panels at each pocket toward each other,each pocket defining an opening for receiving papers at the edgeopposite said fold line and including a flap extending from the outeredge of the outer panel adjacent said opening and foldable along saidedge of said outer panel to cover its associated opening and extend overits associated inner panel toward the center fold line, each flap beingprovided with a plurality of tabs defined by perforations extending intoan associated flap from the fold line joining said flap with the outerpanel of the associated pocket, each set of tabs having a differentnumber of tabs and being spaced laterally at different spacings wherebysaid tabs may act as file indexes when separated from an associated flapand folded to extend in the plane of its associated outer panel so thatsaid folder may be filed with things of similar dimension and said tabwill extend laterally of said stack for filing identification; a paperbinder member having first and second elongated side tabs joined along acenter fold line and defining a plurality of aligned apertures adaptedto receive means for securing loose papers to said binder member and tosaid folder; and staples securing said binder member to said folder withthe fold line of said binder member extending along the center fold lineof said folder.

1. An article comprising a folder having first and second side pocketsformed from a single sheet of heavy paper, each pocket including outerand inner panels joined along two opposite edges, said pockets beingfurther joined together along a fold line extending between said twoedges of each pocket, whereby said pockets may be folded about said foldline to bring the inner panels at each pocket toward each other, eachpocket defining an opening for receiving papers at the edge oppositesaid fold line and including a flap extending from the outer edge of theouter panel adjacent saiD opening and foldable along said edge of saidouter panel to cover its associated opening and extend over itsassociated inner panel toward the center fold line, each flap beingprovided with a plurality of tabs defined by perforations extending intoan associated flap from the fold line joining said flap with the outerpanel of the associated pocket, each set of tabs having a differentnumber of tabs and being spaced laterally at different spacings wherebysaid tabs may act as file indexes when separated from an associated flapand folded to extend in the plane of its associated outer panel so thatsaid folder may be filed with things of similar dimension and said tabwill extend laterally of said stack for filing identification; a paperbinder member having first and second elongated side tabs joined along acenter fold line and defining a plurality of aligned apertures adaptedto receive means for securing loose papers to said binder member and tosaid folder; and staples securing said binder member to said folder withthe fold line of said binder member extending along the center fold lineof said folder.